Westwater Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westwater Canyon |
|
|---|---|
Westwater Canyon.
|
|
 Location in Utah
|
|
| Location | Eastern Utah/Colorado border |
| Coordinates | 38°58′20″N 109°13′40″W / 38.97222°N 109.22778°W |
| Geology | Canyon |
Westwater Canyon is a cool canyon found on the Colorado River. It is located in eastern Utah, right near the border with Colorado. This amazing place is known for its exciting whitewater rapids. Many people who love adventure come here to raft or kayak.
The deepest part of the canyon has very old, black rocks. These rocks are from a time called the Precambrian period, which was billions of years ago! The river here has rapids that are rated as Class III and IV. This means they are quite challenging and thrilling for experienced boaters. The most famous rapid is called "Skull" because it is the biggest and most exciting.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helps keep Westwater Canyon safe and fun. They have a special system where boaters need to get a permit before they can go on the river. This helps make sure everyone follows the rules and stays safe. Many people like to go on a 17-mile trip through the canyon. They often bring camping gear on their rafts and spend one or two days exploring. The trip usually starts at the Westwater ranger station and ends near Cisco.
Westwater Canyon is also a special natural area. It is being studied to see if it should become a "wild and scenic river." This would help protect its natural beauty and the river's flow for the future. Another canyon nearby, called Ruby Canyon, is also being considered for this special protection.
The 17-mile journey through Westwater Canyon starts at the Westwater Ranger Station. It ends at a place called Rose Ranch takeout. Most of the exciting whitewater is found in a part of the canyon called the Marble Gorge. Here, the canyon walls are very tall and steep. This can make it hard to rescue people or boats if something goes wrong.
Exploring Westwater Canyon's Rocks
The rocks in Westwater Canyon are very similar to those you can see in famous nearby places. These include Canyonlands National Park, Colorado National Monument, and Arches National Park. All these spots show off amazing layers of Earth's history.
Layers of Time in the Canyon
The rocks at the very top of Westwater Canyon are from the Triassic and Jurassic periods. These periods were millions of years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! You can see reddish cliffs made of a rock called Wingate Sandstone. Below these cliffs, there are green and purple slopes made of the Chinle Formation.
Ancient Black Rocks of the Inner Gorge
Deep inside Westwater Canyon, you will find a big gap in the rock layers. This gap is called an unconformity. It separates the younger Chinle Formation from much, much older rocks. These ancient rocks are from the Precambrian period. They include black Vishnu Schist and pink Zoroaster Granite.
Westwater Canyon is a unique place. It is one of the only spots on the Colorado River where you can see these super old Precambrian rocks. The only other place is the Grand Canyon itself!
